"The Claverings" is a
novel by Anthony Trollope.
The story focuses on Harry Clavering, a schoolmaster who is
intent in becoming an engineer. He is also in love with the beautiful Julia Brabazon.
Julia jilts Harry in favour of a wealthy debauchee, Lord Ongar, and the couple lives abroad. After a year Ongar dies and Julia
returns to London.
The time that Julia is away, Harry Clavering has fallen in love with homely Florence Burton, daughter of a partner in his engineering company. He comes into contact with Julia when he tries to protect her from the scheming and sinister Count Pateroff and his conniving sister, Sophie Gordeloup, who are after her money. Harry is romantically drawn to Julia once again and the old feeling between them returns.
This time Julia wants to marry Harry. Eventually his conscience wins over when he realizes that Florence will be a better wife for him.
Harry also finds himself heir to the Clavering estate when his two cousins drowned in a boating accident.
The
novel has a conventional ending, and the author, Anthony Trollope, explores the mind of a man in the character of Harry who falls in love with two women. This was during the Victorian era.